India’s victorious streak took a stumble after clinching the Test and ODI series against the West Indies, facing a setback with a 2-3 loss in the five-match T20I series. Despite an impressive comeback from a 0-2 deficit, Hardik Pandya and his team fell short in securing a triumphant series turnaround. The West Indies demonstrated skillful bowling and composed batting, steering themselves to a well-deserved victory.
Irfan Pathan, the former Indian all-rounder, extended his congratulations to the West Indies for their memorable 3-2 series win. He also urged the Indian management to thoroughly examine this defeat to a lower-ranked adversary, considering the worrisome implications of such a loss.
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“Congratulations to the West Indies team on a well-deserved series win! Team India must reflect on this defeat, as losing to a lower-ranked team is indeed worrisome,” Irfan shared on his ‘X’ handle.
Congratulations to the West Indies team on a well-deserved series win! Team India must reflect on this defeat, as losing to a lower-ranked team is indeed worrisome. #INDvWI
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) August 13, 2023
In the match, India batted first after winning the toss, but their young openers fell swiftly. Suryakumar Yadav showcased his prowess with a dynamic 61 off 45 balls, contributing to India’s competitive total of 165/9 in 20 overs. While Tilak Varma exhibited promise with a rapid 18-ball 27, he failed to capitalize on the strong start
Romario Shepherd emerged as a standout performer with the ball, securing four wickets. Jason Holder and Akeal Hosein also made crucial contributions with two wickets each. The West Indies replied with gusto, as Brandon King, who had experienced a subdued series, delivered a remarkable unbeaten 85 off 55 balls, leading his team to an eight-wicket victory with two overs to spare. Nicholas Pooran, who had been in excellent form, bolstered the effort with a quickfire 35-ball 47.
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Nicholas Pooran, the former West Indies captain, was aptly honored as the Player of the Series, exhibiting remarkable consistency as the standout batter for the home side. His recent Major League Cricket title win with MI New York was testament to his skills, which he carried forward into the T20I series against India. Across five matches, Pooran accumulated 176 runs from 124 balls, boasting an average of 35.20 and a strike rate of 141.94. His best score of 67 off 40 balls came during the challenging second T20I in Guyana, where most other batters from both teams struggled to find their footing.
